A comprehensive framework for analysis and evaluation of factors responsible for sustainable growth of electric vehicles in India

Abstract

The Indian transport sector powered by fossil fuels is primarily responsible for creating severe issues like greenhouse gas emissions, foreign fuel dependency, economic burden, and chronic health effects. To mitigate these severe issues, electric vehicles (EVs) are positioned as an alternate green and clean technology, which can potentially enable the efficient transition to a sustainable low-carbon emission transportation system and preservation of natural scarce resources. Despite announcing favorable policy measures to encourage EV adoption, the multiplicity of potential factors with mutual interaction has resisted its penetration in several countries. Though researchers have identified the critical factors, the question “How do these factors mutually interact among themselves?” has remained largely unanswered in empirical research. Unpacking the relationship between the factors will empower manufacturers and policymakers in strategic planning, and devising suitable measures in controlling the factors. The primary goal of this research is to undertake a thorough assessment and give a brief understanding of the various factors responsible for sustainable growth of EVs market in India. Factors are identified from past academic literature and experts' interviews. Study further empirically validated the identified factors. Then integrated Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) – Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach has been used to demonstrate the interrelationship and hierarchal structure of the factors. The present study will be useful to the manufacturers, policymakers to focus on the gray area so that they can expedite the growth of EVs deployment in India.